ShipRecycling Pages:

13 November 2015

Scrapper’s Delight:

A tendril of hope
may still float for the former KUNGSHOLM but not for three old favorites in
this scrapping update.

MV CELEBRATION at
Alang. Photo and copyright Sitaram 2015

With a lull in the
demand for steel, the shipbreaking industry in India has slowed significantly
in recent months but not enough to prevent the damaged CELEBRATION from being
beached at high tide on October 29 after a long delivery voyage from Freeport. CELEBRATION
is the shortened delivery name for Celebration Cruise Lines’ BAHAMAS
CELEBRATION, the former Color Line ferry PRINSESSE RAGNHILD of 1981, which was
damaged after striking an underwater object on November 3, 2014. After repairs
were deemed too costly, the ship was laid up at Freeport and eventually
replaced by the 1986-built GRAND CELEBRATION, the former Carnival Cruise Lines’
CELEBRATION, which now operates on two night party cruises from West Palm Beach
under the Bahamas Paradise Cruises banner.

Meanwhile, the
VERONICA, which was built in 1966 as the KUNGSHOLM and later served as
P&O’s first SEA PRINCESS and VICTORIA (and numerous other post P&O
career names), has been sold to Indian scrap merchants. Last used at Duqm, Oman
as a floating hotel, the VERONICA’s fate may not yet be sealed. There is a
“Save The Kungsholm” campaign underway to bring the ship back to Sweden to be
restored in a manner similar to the SS ROTTERDAM, which is enjoying a
successful afterlife as a hotel ship at Rotterdam. While efforts to find a
berth in the former KUNGSHOLM’s former homeport of Gothenburg or Stockholm have
been difficult at best, the new need for refugee accommodation in Sweden may
help save the ship. We hope to have more details on the ship’s fate soon.

MV AKDENIZ at
Aliaga. Photo and copyright Selim San 2015.

The breakers in
Aliaga, Turkey are making fast work of the historic Turkish liner AKDENIZ (see
related stories), which was sadly delivered for demolition a few short weeks ago.

MV LISBOA at
Aliaga. Photo and copyright Selim San 2015.

Nearby, the LISBOA,
the former 1955-built refrigerated cargo ship PORT MELBOURNE that was vastly
rebuilt into the deluxe cruise ship DANAE in 1975, is reaching the final stages
of her demolition. She last operated as Classic International’s PRINCESS DANAE
and was in the midst of a refit to become (now defunct) Portuscale Cruises’
LISBOA when work was called off due to corroded plating.